Boka Washikemba
This
dive is lots of fun. There is a nice stretch of coral reef
between 60 and 100 feet. Much like Boka Onima the coral reef
is quite a ways from shore at the end of a teasingly slow
drop off which is covered with macro algae, scattered rocks
and cracks. It is a nice reef with many large coral heads as
well as some large Gorgonians. There is abundant fish life
on the reef. We often see large Grouper, Barracuda, Queen
Trigger and a couple of Pork fish call this reef home.
But the real fun part is toward the end of the dive where
there are many very large rock formations which make for a
labyrinth of caverns, bridges, tunnels and holes to swim
through. Between the rocks it is teeming with fish life.
Lots of Grunts, Snappers, Queen Angels and large Rainbow
Parrot fish etc are hanging out here. Underneath these rocks
the ceilings are covered with colorful sponges. In the nooks
and crannies under the rocks you will find interesting
juvenile fish, shrimp, eels and lobsters. Often when you
come out from underneath a rock the first thing you see will
be a Tarpon, Permit or a number of Large Rainbow Parrot fish
with on the back ground the whirls and mushroom clouds of
foam created by the waves hitting the steep iron shore
above.
Back in the boka it is fun to look for Longhorn-, Seaweed-
and Rough Head Blennies. A lot of scattered small rocks make
homes for eels, crabs and Octopus. A very large crack in the
bottom is the home of a school of Glassy Sweeper.
The entry is a giant stride at the end of the boka and our
exit is at a rocky beach inside the boka.
A full wetsuit and good booties are recommended for this
dive.
